Did You Know?

Within the following article group, you will discover some interesting facts, people, and events that even most Jehovah’s Witnesses have little or no knowledge or awareness about. A few of these reports are quite revealing. Others are disconcerting or embarrassing. Many reveal secrets that modern Watchtower leaders would hope could be long forgotten or simply ignored by Jehovah’s Witnesses and their critics.

This collection does not focus on any one category or subject. However, most of these little tidbits of history reveal teachings, practices and personalities promoted by the Watchtower and then quietly hidden in the storeroom and file cabinets of one or more of their “Bethel Homes.”

Note: As is the case with many of our articles, some of the documents, books and newspapers references mentioned here and elsewhere on this website can be found in our “DOCUMENTS LIBRARY.” Feel free to visit, read or download any of the documents archived in those archives.

[Please note: Some of the articles listed below may also appear within other category collections.]

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In 2009, the Watch Tower Society published a songbook to replace the one that was in use by Jehovah’s Witnesses for twenty-five years.

Along with new songs, many of the old ones were adjusted because “increased light” during that time caused many Witness doctrines to change and “some of the expressions used in the old songbook have become outdated.” That’s the explanation in the December 15, 2010 Watchtower article, “SING TO JEHOVAH” (pg. 23, par. 15):

CBS News reported on May 12, 2016 that papers published recently by the Dutch Euthanasia Commission reportedly revealed that “a woman in her twenties was allowed to go ahead with assisted suicide based on psychiatrists’ decision that her mental health condition was ‘insufferable,’ and it …

Residents of Halstead have had enough door knocking by Jehovah’s Witnesses in their village. Halstead in Essex, England, is a town of about 11,000 residents just a 20-minute drive northeast of London. They’ve finally spoken out and complained to authorities that Jehovah’s Witnesses have become …

After Prince’s death, George Cook (an elder at the Kingdom Hall where Prince attended JW meetings) was reported to have said the church does not have a problem with Prince’s reported addiction to prescription drugs because “that’s a personal matter.” “Brother” Cook made this statement after …

In 1926, during “a convention of Bible Students [today known as Jehovah’s Witnesses] held at Chicago … the question was brought prominently to the fore: ‘What shall be done concerning the teaching of truth to children.’” Several hundred brethren decided to pass a resolution calling …

In 1922, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society was one of the first religious organizations to enter the commercial radio broadcasting field – a technology that was still in its infancy. Shortly after going out over the air on the initial broadcast, the Watch …

Jehovah’s Witnesses recently added another property to their real estate portfolio. This property acquisition took place in spite of complaints in their publications and on their online video channel that the organization has suffered from a nagging shortage of funds. …

In a memorandum dated March 28, 1941, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation strongly suggested that Joseph F. Rutherford, then president of the Watchtower Society, be closely monitored and potentially arrested “…in the event of a national emergency.” J. Edgar Hoover (the FBI …

Sputnik News in Sweden reported in late July 2019 that Jehovah’s Witnesses “run a multi-million dollar film industry with the purpose of specifically reaching out to children. This is despite being convicted in a district court for showing films that have not been approved by …

For many young male Jehovah’s Witnesses, the thrills and joy of reaching “manhood” are tempered by the possibility of serving some time in a Federal prison. Why? Because they face the possibility (especially when there are wars going on) that they will be called up …

When “Judge” Rutherford visited New Zealand in 1938 he met a mostly hostile reception. As Rutherford was driven to the Auckland Town Hall to deliver a lecture, “…his attention was drawn to a newspaper placard bearing a distortion of the title of a lecture he had …

Russell taught that the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt was inspired by Jehovah God and used the pyramid’s measurements as a guide for much of the chronology in the Studies in the Scriptures volumes.* Rutherford credited the Pyramid to Satan the Devil calling the …

Two former Jehovah’s Witnesses claim the church looked the other way when they were sexually abused as children for years — and now plan to sue under a landmark state law that takes effect this week. Lawyers for Heather Steele, 48, and John Michael Ewing, …

Did you know that Selena Quintanilla was raised in a devout Jehovah’s Witness family? Or that the Mexican-American singer who was murdered by the founder of her fan club on March 31, 1995, would have turned 44 on April 16th? Tens of thousands of her …

“I asked Barbara Anderson, by way of email, a question about the Bethel libraries, in particular, those that the writers had access. I had hoped, based on her experience and perspective, she would jump in on one of our threads where the library topic had …

If there’s one saying used among Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) that I truly dislike, it is this: “He’s not doing anything about the Truth right now.” This is used to indicate that someone isn’t active but there’s still hope they might return. What I don’t like …

There are facts and secrets about Jehovah’s Witnesses not commonly known – even to Witnesses themselves. From its beginnings, this website has tried to make it clear that there are many things the Watch Tower has very carefully hidden or simply denied. One of those …

Did you know how (in sworn testimony during the recent Australian Royal Commission hearing) Governing Body member Geoffrey Jackson responded to the question, “Do you see yourselves as Jehovah’s spokespeople on earth?” Jackson replied, “That, I think, would seem to be quite presumptuous to say …

It is my assertion that the publishers of the October 1, 2005 Watchtower, a Jehovah’s Witness journal, blatantly misrepresented statements from at least five well-known secular sources in an attempt to discourage their readers from pursuing higher education. While a religious journal may choose not …

In the spring of 1975, Frederick W. Franz, considered since the mid-1920s to be the Watchtower’s “official oracle,” stressed the urgency of the Christian preaching work during his public speeches. Why? Because he believed that 6,000 years of human history would end that next September …

Did you know that it was 1920 (and possibly as early as 1918) when the WTB&TS, Inc. initially began to track and keep extensive field service activity records? That’s what’s noted in the footnote found on page 312 in their “history” book, Jehovah’s Witnesses in the …

…Russell and Rutherford disagreed on the Pyramid teaching? Charles Taze Russell was famed for teaching that Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza was “inspired by Jehovah God.” He wrote about it extensively and used the Pyramid’s measurements as a guide for much of his “end times” …

…Jehovah’s Witnesses were told not to have children? As far back as 1938 the Watchtower was urging Jehovah’s Witnesses not to marry and rear children because of the “urgency” of the witnessing work. Hence, many Witnesses from that era did not marry or have children. …

…JW baptism questions changed many times since Pastor Russell’s time? One reader of our earlier “Did You Know?” article on changing baptism questions asked: “Hello. What were the questions before 1973 then? The title alludes to the questions changing twice; so there have been three …

The early Bible Students (later “Jehovah’s Witnesses”) were defined as both “a sect” and as “not a sect” at various times by their own founder. Charles T. Russell (founder of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society) denied his movement was a “sect” in reply …

In 2001 I requested historical information from the ANCIENT ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE OF FREEMASONRY, VALLEY OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. I asked if Charles Taze Russell, his father and his uncle were Pennsylvania Freemasons. This was their answer:

In 1989, Joe and I, along with another Bethel couple, Dorothy and Dennis, traveled to Turkey on vacation and stayed at the Watch Tower Branch of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Istanbul. At that time, the Watch Tower and Jehovah’s Witnesses were banned by the Turkish government …